Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) isn't ready to let Congress clock out early on Social Security. In an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Friday, Cassidy said lawmakers still have time to tackle the program's solvency, invoking a simple principle: "the time is always right to do the right thing."

The conversation covered a lot of ground, including the Republican Party's midterm losses, U.S. politics, Iran, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But it was Social Security that drew the most pointed exchange.

Cassidy: Congress Can Still Act, But Delay Would Be a 'Political Crime'

Collins pressed Cassidy on the calendar: he's in session for just 22 days before this Congress ends. Was there really enough time to address something that big?

Cassidy's answer was essentially: yes, because the work is already done. He said he's been working on a solution for six years, with preparatory hearings completed and legislation drafted. He also tied the issue to affordability, arguing that heavy government borrowing is driving up long-term interest rates, including rates on mortgages and car loans, which increases borrowing costs for Americans.

"If you want to do something about affordability, fix social," he said, adding that reform is important for the financial security of people who depend on Social Security.

And if Congress punts? Cassidy didn't mince words. He warned that ignoring the issue for another two years would be "criminal in my mind, not technically criminal, a political crime," and said Congress should be held accountable if it fails to address the program's solvency.

Cassidy Calls Failure to Save Social Security an 'Incredible' Congressional Failure

Cassidy doubled down in a post on X, writing: "Congress is meant to serve the needs of the American people, not the other way around. Our job is to focus on the issues that affect their lives. Social Security is one of them."

He added that "Not saving Social Security would be an incredible failure of Congress. Making it a priority is the right thing to do. And the time is always right to do the right thing."

Trustees See Shortfall in 2032; Cassidy Proposes $1.5 Trillion Fund

The stakes are hard to overstate. Social Security's retirement trust fund helps pay benefits to eligible workers and qualifying family members. Trustees said in a June report that the fund will run out in the fourth quarter of 2032, at which point retirement benefits would be cut by 22%.

Cassidy has proposed a $1.5 trillion "pension investment fund," separate from the Social Security Trust Fund, to be funded over five years. Whether that idea gains traction in the remaining 22 days is an open question, but Cassidy is making clear he intends to force the issue.